tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217199.post894236585823303601..comments2019-03-15T14:02:37.485-07:00Comments on Can you believe?: Am I a political junkie?Johan Maurerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13771067774042071617noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217199.post-5025331501426382242008-01-10T18:24:00.000-08:002008-01-10T18:24:00.000-08:00Derek--thanks for the link to the CD Baby download...Derek--thanks for the link to the CD Baby download track. I downloaded the MP3 and am enjoying it, but I'm not getting any audio out of the right channel. Is that a problem with the original recording? My other MP3s are playing fine.<BR/><BR/>Concerning <I>The Way of a Pilgrim</I>--I read it many years ago and enjoyed it. Your mention of it just now drove me to my bookshelf where I snagged my copy of the <I>Philokalia</I>, which I've also not looked at in far too long. I may quote from it in today's (Jan 10) posting.<BR/><BR/>I love the Pilgrim's testimonies and similar literature, not as patterns to adopt for myself or to urge on others, but because I'm always grateful to know how others experience discipleship and spiritual power. Someone once said that most devotional books are written by intuitive introverts for intuitive introverts--and that suits me just fine, since I'm one of them! But I'm also aware that the church needs to provide for all temperaments, which is why I see such books as illustrative or advisory, rather than prescriptive--even though I don't want to lose the hero-value of the books: it <I>is</I> possible to pray without ceasing, to become utterly God-centered, despite the excuses I come up with to cut myself slack.Johanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13771067774042071617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217199.post-79782970981743452232008-01-10T01:51:00.000-08:002008-01-10T01:51:00.000-08:00You spend a lot of time in Russia. I would like to...You spend a lot of time in Russia. I would like to know if you have read the popular Russian religious text <I>The Way of a Pilgrim</I> and its second-half or sequel <I>The Pilgrim Continues His Way</I> and what you think of them overall.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Way_of_a_Pilgrim" REL="nofollow">The Way of a Pilgrim - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</A><BR/><BR/>They are obviously not Quaker texts but Russian Orthodox. Nevertheless I would find your opinion interesting.<BR/><BR/>Your blog entry triggered this question because it made me remember a portion of the book in which excessive engagement in political affairs and political talk, as opposed to prayer, is suggested to be an indication of insufficient commitment to God.<BR/><BR/>For those who have a copy of this text, I refer to the chapter containing the fifth meeting or fifth narrative, in the section where the pilgrim goes to Kiev to make confession and is rebuked gently by the father to whom he confesses.<BR/><BR/>I struggle as you do with news junkieism. It draws me away from more important things. I sometimes wish I could ditch the computer for a while. But my job requires it and the temptation is always there. Unfortunately I usually yield. It is as if I am a smoking addict who is required by work to smoke a cigarette or two each day while attempting to quit the habit itself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217199.post-10024078199654141262008-01-09T20:12:00.000-08:002008-01-09T20:12:00.000-08:00Hey Johan,speaking of news out of central africa.....Hey Johan,<BR/>speaking of news out of central africa... here's some good. It ain't de blues, but it's pretty sweet. Produced, arranged, performed and recorded by Burundian Evangelical Friends.<BR/><BR/>http://cdbaby.com/cd/kamengefriendschurchDerek Lamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00070696326362223359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217199.post-30157271394555027432008-01-09T15:45:00.000-08:002008-01-09T15:45:00.000-08:00I see that Mary Kay Rehard is trying to consolidat...I see that Mary Kay Rehard is trying to consolidate news sources in one place--<A HREF="http://www.updatesonkenya.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">here it is</A>.Johanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13771067774042071617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217199.post-25117020511106821592008-01-05T09:39:00.000-08:002008-01-05T09:39:00.000-08:00Thank you for the Kenya update links, Johan. Your ...Thank you for the Kenya update links, Johan. Your perspective on politics and world events is a good deal better informed than mine, and I'm grateful to have a pointer on where to turn for news. <BR/><BR/>It is very hard to wait, and worry, and pray.Cat Chapin-Bishophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10002916434676859262noreply@blogger.com